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TERM:2021-22 Winter
COURSE NUMBER: BUSI 420
COURSE TITLE: Business Ethics
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Gordon T. Preston, B.Ed., Dip.C.S., M.B.A, EdD
CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will emphasize that all business decisions have significant ethical content. It will explore the varied history of incorporating ethics into or attempting to eliminate it from business. The contemporary ethical challenges in the conduct of business will be examined from a Christian viewpoint and compared with other ethical stances. It is intended to help students develop and refine an ethical framework.

Prerequisites: PHIL 230 and BUSI 339, 370, 396
REQUIRED TEXTS:
  • The textbook in this course is available in print or digital form. Print is $99,95 available in the bookstore. Digital is $59 for a 180-day license. Sexty, Robert W. (2020) Canadian Business and Society: Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability. McGraw-Hill: Toronto, ON
  • As well, there is a case study coursepack available in the Course Resources folder on the course Moodle site. It contains the case studies we will be discussing in class.
  • Other readings as assigned
MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:
Personal Ethics Statement15%
Midterm Exam35%
Written Case Analysis35%
In class Case Discussion15%
100%
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to:
  • Articulate meta-ethical theories
  • Demonstrate familiarity with scriptural, historical and contemporary perspectives on business ethics
  • Identify and evaluate perspectives and processes in ethical decision making
  • Apply ethical analysis tools to situations
  • Articulate and defend a personal ethical framework
COURSE OUTLINE:
  • Unit 1 (week 1): Introduction/Overview
    • Reading – Chapter 1
  • Unit 2 (week 2): Ethics, Capitalism and Stakeholders
    • Reading – Chapters 2, 3
  • Unit 3 (week 3): Stakeholder Analysis
    • Reading – Chapter 4
    • Case Discussion – Telus: Ethics and Cell Phone Tower Sites
  • Unit 4 (weeks 4 and 5): Ethical Theory, Critical Thinking and Ethical Decision Making
    • Reading – Chapter 5
    • Case Discussion – Apple: Privacy vs Safety
  • Unit 5 (week 6): Leadership and Strategy in Ethics
    • Reading – Chapter 6
    • Case Discussion – Starbucks Corporation: Fighting Racial Bias
  • Unit 6 (week 7): Influencing Business Ethics and New Directions
    • Reading – Chapters 10 and 16
    • Case Discussion – Spruceland Properties Inc.
  • Unit 7 (week 8): Governance
    • Reading – Chapter 11
    • Case Discussion – Ghana Investment Fund Limited
  • Unit 8 (week 9): Marketplace Ethics
    • Reading – Chapter 12
    • Case Discussion – American Apparel
  • Unit 9 (week 10 - 14):
    • Midterm Exam
    • Case Discussions
      • Mining and Corporate Social Responsibility: BHP Billiton and the Tintaya Dialogue
      • The Red Hen Controversy
      • Tianlong Company and the Toxic Capsule Scandal
      • CEO Decision-making at Prairie Health Services
      • Braniff International: The Ethics of Bankruptcy
      • Enron (two class periods allocated to this discussion)


Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.

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